Coin chute



June 7- I w. A. TRATSCH 2,421,857,

com CHUTE Filed Feb. 19, 1945 2 Sheets-Shet 1 S l2 Z v 2 y I IN V ENTOR.

Patented June 10, 1947 COIN CHUTE Walter A. Tratsch,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to certain novel improvements in coin chutes.

More specifically the invention relates to a coin chute of the gravitytype whereby the movement of coins by gravity through a runway operatescertain mechanism of a coin chute. The invention contemplates a coinchute of this type which will be highly efficient in use and ecconomicalin manufacture.

A still'further object of the invention is the provision of a coinchute, the mechanism of which is operated by one or more coins and inwhich chute there is provided a window which displays the coinstemporarily retained in the coin runway or chute.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combinationand arrangement of partsto be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the invention; Fig. 2 is a reverse.perspective view of the coin chute illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 2, with the actuating barembodied. in the invention removed.

The drawings illustrate the preferred form of construction by which theseveral objects of this invention are accomplished.

In this connection the preferred form of construction of the invention,as illustrated in the drawing, comprises a, housing It. This housing Ithas a back wall Hover which a frame I2 is disposed, and this frame I2carries a transparent plate I3.

In the back wall II on the face thereof, there is formed a, circuitouscoin chute or passage t4, the upper end of which has communication witha coin entrance opening I formed in the plate I3. The lower end portionofthis coin chuteor passage [4 communicates with an exit opening I5 atthe lower end of the housing It.

A mounting bracket I! is secured to the rear face of the back wall II bymeans of screw ele-- ments I8. This mounting bracket carries a studshaft I9, and mounted on this stud shaft I9 is a ratchet wheel 20.likewise mounted on the stud shaft is is a spring 2|, one end of whichis connected to the ratchet wheel as at 22 and the opposite end to themounting bracket as at 23, the arrangement being such that the ratchetwheel 20, rotatable upon the stud shaft I9 in an anticlockwisedirection, will place the spring 2| Chicago, 111., assignor to ClarenceE. Threedy, Chicago, 111., as trustee Application February 19, 1945,Serial No. 578,584

under tension so that when the ratchet wheel is free to rotate in aclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, it will rotate under action ofthe spring 2|.

Secured to the rear face of the back wall II is a bracket 24. Thisbracket 24 pivotally carries a finger 25. Formed as an integral part ofthis arm 25 is a spring clamp 23 which frictionally holds a mercuryswitch 21. This mercury switch 2'! is of a well-known type and includesthe lead elements 23 to which circuit wires of an electric circuit areconnected. In this mercury switch is a spot of mercury 29 which isadapted to contact the lead elements 28 when the arm 25 is pivoted in ananticlockwise direction as viewed in- Fig. 2. In the position shown inFig. 2, the spot of mercury is in the lower end portion of the tube ofthe mercury switch, free from contact with the lead elements 28. The arm25 tapers into a finger 30 which is disposed in the path of pin elements3| and 32. The pin element 32 has an end frictionally mounted in one ofspaced sockets 33, the arrangement being such that the pin element 32may be adjusted so as to causev the ratchet wheel to operate in a mannerhereinafter more fully explained, by the use of one or more coins.

An actuating bar 34 is provided with an elongated slot 35, andprojecting through this elongated slot 35 is a stud shaft 34 A similarelongated slot 35 is formed in the lower end portion of the actuatingbar 34, and a similar shaft 36 is projected through this slot 35' andconnected to the rear wall II as at 37.

An escapement bar is indicatedat 33, and this escapement bar ispivotally connected to the back wall I I by means of a stud shaft 39.The pivotal movement of this escapement bar 38 is under the action of aspring 40, one end of which is connected as at 4| to the escapement barand the opposite end of which is connected as at 42 to the rear wall II.

Carried by this escapement bar is a coin-actuated finger 43 movablethrough a slotted guide 44 carried by the rear wall II. The end portion45 of this finger 43 projects through an arcuated slot 46 into the coinpassage I3, the arcuated slot 46 being formed in the rea wall I I. I

The sprin 43 normally pivots the escapement bar 38 in the position shownin Fig. 2, with the finger 43 disposed in the upper extremity of theslot of'the plate 44 and with the end portion 45 of the finger disposedin the upper extremity of the arcuated slot 46.

Secured to the rear wall II are bracket elements 4'! spaced from eachothe as shown and pivotally supporting therebetween a coin-retaining bar48. The lower end portion 49 of this bar 48 projects through a slot 55'into the path of coins passing through the coin passage l3. The upperend portion 5| of the bar 48 is disposed in the path of a cam element 52carried by the ratchet wheel 2il.

A spring leaf 5-3 secured to the rear wall H as at 54, bears against theupper reach of the bar 48 for reasons hereinafter more fully set forth.

Secured to the lower end other and pivotally carrying 'there'between asecond coin-retaining bar 56. The upper end portion 5! of this barprojects through the slot .50

while the lower end portion 58 of the. .bar 56.

projects through a slot 59 formed in the wall ll. Carried by the rearwall H as at 50 isa leaf spring 51 simila to the leaf spring 53 andhaving its end portion bearing upon the lower reach of thebar55.

Carried by th upper end portion 51 of the bar 56 is a laterallyprojecting finger 62, the end 63 of which is adapted to engage a camelement 6 carried on the underside of the actuating bar 3 To c mpletethe invention, a spring 65 connected to the actuating 'bar as at 6-6 andto a screw element 5'1 '(the latter carried by the rear wail-l 14)serves to return the actuating bar 34 to the position shown inFig. 2. I

Let it be assumed that the pi ii '32 is positioned in the opening 33nearest the-pin 31. In this positionni the pin '32 the coin chutemechanism is adapted to be operated by a'single coin, To operate thecoin chute, a coin is passed through the entrance. opening l5 into thupper reach of the coinpassage l3, from whence it gravitates downwardlyto a position to be retained by the end portion 49 or the bar 48-. Inthis passage of the coin 't'o-posi tion upon the end portion 49 of thebar 48, the coin engages the end portion 45 of the finger 43 and theweight of this coin will pivot the finger downwardly. ,In so doing, theescapement bar is pivoted in a direction to permitthe ratchet wheel toadvance a step equivalent. to the space between the teeth of the.ratchet wheel. In so rotating, the pin 32 will engage the finger 30' andimpart pivotal movement to the arm 25, with the result that the mercuryswitch will be pivoted in an anti-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig.2, disposing the spot of mercury into contact withthe lead elements 28,thereby completing the circuit to the mechanism operating the machinewith which the coin chute constituting this disclosure is associated.

To return the ratchet wheel'in an opposite direction one step to resetthe mercury switch to the position shown in Fig. 2, the operating bar 34is moved downwardly in a longitudinal direction with respect to itslength, this movement being against the action of the spring 65. In thusmoving the bar 34 downwardly, theupper end portion thereof will engagethe stud shaft 34 and rotate the ratchet wheel in an anticlockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 2, causing the pin-3i to-engage the finger55 and thus pivot the mercury switch to theposition shown in Fig. 2;breaking the elect'ric circuit through the lead elements 28.

As the ratchet wheel is moved in a clockwise.

direction as viewed: in Fig. 2 by the a'ctionof the portion of the WallH are bracket elements 55 spaced from each coin-engaging finger 45, thecam element 52 will engage the end portion 5| of the bar 48. Thisengagement of the cam 52 with the end portion 5| of this bar, will pivotthis bar against the action of spring 53 to project the end portion 49thereof into the coin passage, in which position this end portion 49will support the coin so that the same may be viewed through thetransparent plate [3. The coin will remain this position until theactuating bar 3'4 is moved downwardly in the longitudinal directionhereinbefore described. In this downward movement of the bar 134, thecam 64 will engage the finger 62 and vpivot the .bar 56 against theaction of the spring 164. This moves the upper end of the bar 56 intothe path of movement of the coin through the coin passage 44 :so thatwhen the bar 48 is pivoted by engagement with the cam 52 and the endportion 4-9 thereof withdrawn, the coin will be released from engagementwith the end portion 49 of the bar 4'8 and instead rest upon the endportion 51 of the bar 56. The coin williemain in this latter positionuntil the actuating bar 34 is released for-movement action or the spring65 to thepcs'ition shown in at which time the ha r 55 will return to itsnormal position shown Fig. 2 by action of the spring leaf 6| projectingthe end portion 58 of th'e b'ar 56 into the coin passage M totemporarily retain the coin therein in the position shown in Fig. 1. ihecoin will be retained in this positionuntil the actuating bar 34 isagain moved downwardly to bring the cam element 54 into engagement withthee'nd 53 of the finger 62 toeflect pivotal movement of the bar 56 towithdraw the end portion 58 from the path of movement of coinsgravitatingdown the coin passage 14.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings I have shown four coins retained in the lowerportion of the coin passage- In this particular instance the pin 32 isshown as being set to operate the coin machanismby the passage of fourcoins. As each of these coins gravitate down the chute they will eachengage the end portion '45 of the finger 44 and thereby effect operationof the mechanism in the manner herein'before set forth.

The simplicity of my invention is apparent from the foregoingdescription, and the coinchute mayv be operated'with facility.

The actuating bar is normally actuated. by some element of the mechanismof the machine with which the coin chute is associated. This mechanismmay be a plunger which engages the upper endportion of the bar 34.

While I have illustrated and described the. preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my in vention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I. therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construe tion set forth,,but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as some within the scope of the appendedclaims- Having thus described my claim as new and desire to Patent is:

1. A coin chute compr"'ing a housing havin a coin passage formed thereinwith an entrance opening communicating with the upper end or the passageand an exit opening communicating. with the lower end of the passage,means pivotally carried by the housing and having portions projectinginto. th'ep'assa'ge for temporarily and simultaneously retaining coins.at two difierent positions substantially spaced from each other.

invention, what I protect by Letters in the passage for movement bygravity from one of said two positions to said exit opening and torelease coinsfrom the other of said two positions for movement bygravity to said one of two positions. '2, A coin chute comprisingahousing having a coin' passage formed therein with an entrance openingcommunicating with the upper end of the passage and an exit openingcommunicating with the lower end of the passage, means pivotally carriedby the housing and having portions projecting into the passa e fortemporarily and simultaneously retaining coins at two differentpositions substantially spaced from each other within said passage,means for pivoting said mean to release the coins temporarily retainedin the passage for movement by gravity from one of said two positions tosaid exit opening and to release coins from the other of said twopositions for movement by gravity to said one of two positions, andmeans for temporarily retaining coins at said other of two positionsuntil after the release of coins from said one of two positions.

3. A housing having a coin passage formed therein with an entranceopening communicating with the upper end of the passage and an exitopening communicating with the lower end of the passage, means pivotallycarried by the housing and having portions projecting into the passagefor temporarily retaining coins at two different positions within saidpassage, means for pivoting said means to release the coins temporarilyretained in the passage for movement by gravity from one of said twopositions to said exit opening and to release coins from the other ofsaid two positions for movement by gravity to said on of two positions,and means actuated by coins moving by gravity down said passage fromsaid entrance opening for actuating said release means.

4. A coin chute comprising a, housing having a coin passage formedtherein with an entrance opening communicating with the upper end of thepassage and an exit opening communicating with the lower end of thepassage, means pivotally carried by the housing and having portionsprojecting into the passage for temporarily retaining coins at twodifferent positions within said passage, means for pivoting said meansto release the coins temporarily retained in the passage for movement bygravity from one of said two positions to said exit opening and torelease coins from the other of said two positions for movement bygravity to said one of two positions, means for temporarily retainingcoins at said other of two positions until after the release of coinsfrom said one of two positions, and means actuated by coins moving bygravity down said passage from said entrance opening for actuating saidrelease means.

5. A housing having a coin passage formed therein with an entranceopening communicating with the upper end of the passage and an exitopening communicating with the lower end of the passage, means pivotallycarried by the housing and having portions projecting into the passagefor temporarily retaining coins at two different positions within saidpassage, means for pivoting said means to release the coins temporarilyretained in the passage for movement by gravity from one of said twopositions to said exit opening and to release coins from the other ofsaid .two positions forzmovefment by gravity to said one jof twopositions,gand means actuated by coins moving 'by gravity down saidpassageirom said entrance opening for actuating said release means, saidlast-named means including a ratchet and pawl and an arm carried by saidpawl and projecting into saidpassageand adapted to be engaged by coinsgravitating throughgsaid passage and, when thus engaged, to actuate saidpawl to move the ratchetstepiby step. i

6. A coin chute comprising a housing having a coin passage formedtherein with an entrance opening communicating with the upper end of thepassage and an exit opening communicating with the lower end of thepassage, means pivotally carried by the housing and having portionsprojecting into the passage for temporarily retaining coins at twodiiferent positions within said passage, means for pivoting said meansto release the coins temporarily retained in the passage for movement bygravity from one of said two positions to said exit opening and torelease coins from the other of said two positions for movement bygravity to said one of two positions, means for temporarily retainingcoins at said other of two positions until after the release of coinsfrom said one of two positions, means actuated by coins moving bygravity down said passage from said entrance opening for actuating saidrelease means, said last-named means including a ratchet and pawl and anarm carried by said pawl and projecting into said passage and adapted tobe engaged by coins gravitating through said passage and, when thusengaged, to actuate said pawl to move the ratchet step by step.

7. A coin chute comprising a housing having a coin passage formedtherein with an entrance opening communicating with the upper end of thepassage and an exit opening communicating with the lower end of thepassage, switch mechanism pivotally carried by the housing, meanscarried by the housing and projecting into the passage and operable bycoins gravitating down the passage for pivoting said switch mechanism inone direction, means pivotally carried by the housing and projectinginto the passage into the path of coins passing therethrough fortemporarily retaining the coins in said passage; and means operable withan element of said switchpivoting means and adapted to engage an elementof said coin-retaining means to retract said coin-retaining means fromsaid passage to permit coins to continue to move by gravity down saidpassage through said exit opening, and means for pivoting said switchmechanism in an opposite direction.

8. A coin chute comprising a housing having a coin passage formedtherein with an entrance opening communicating with the upper end of thepassage and an exit opening communicating with the lower end of thepassage, switch mechanism pivotally carried by the housing, meanscarried by the housing and projecting into the passage and operable bycoins gravitating down the passage for pivoting said switch mechanism inone direction, means pivotally carried by the housing and projectinginto the passage into the path of coins passing therethrough fortemporarily retaining the coins in said passage, means operable with anelement of said switch-pivoting means and adapted to engage an elementof said" coin-retaining means to retract said coin-retaining means fromsaid passage to permit coins to continue to move by gravity down saidpassage rough-saidemt-zopening amdnthermeans pmli'e'ctm'g mw sam passagetor ben'n avm:arily iretain- REFERENCES CITED amg-thesmqasedlcainsinramither"position'witlfin The following references are ofrecord in the said 'pass'a'ge, means 01 pivoting 'sai'd witch file ofthis patent:

mechanism liman opposite di-recfiion, and means a; v :actuatedhyssaidJastmamed means and adapted UNITED STATES PATENTS to engageanselement-of said otherrcuin-retain- Number Name Date ing means-t0efie'ct mleaseof the-coins'atmmsaid 3M Rmketts l 1900Elast-nafxredpositionwithmssaidipassage sferzgrav- 751s420 $01011 11904itation through saidkxitvopenin'g. '10

WALTER, A. "IRATSCH.

